256、只有那些被光照的人才理解圣言。人类理性若不被主光照，就无法理解神性事物，甚至无法理解属灵事物（2196，2203，2209，2654节）。这意味着只有那些被光照的人才能理解圣言（10323节）。主使那些被光照的人能理解真理，并理清圣言中那些看似自相矛盾的事物（9382，10659节）。字义上的圣言并不连贯，常常看似自相矛盾（9025节）。因此，那些没有被光照的人可以解释并强迫它来支持各种观点和异端，赞成各种世俗和肉体的爱（4783，10330，10400节）。那些出于对真理和良善的爱来阅读圣言的人会从圣言获得光照，而那些出于对名声、利益或尊贵的爱，因而出于爱自己来阅读它的人则不然（9382，10548，10549，10550节）。那些处于生活的良善，由此处于对真理的情感之人被光照（8694节）。那些内在被打开，因而就内在人而言能被提升到天堂之光的人被光照（10400，10402，10691，10694节）。光照是实际打开心智的内层，并把它们提升到天堂之光中（10330节）。如果人们视圣言为神圣，尽管他们自己没有意识到这一点，那么神圣就从内在，也就是通过内在从主流入（6789节）。那些被主引导的人被光照，在圣言中看见真理；但那些被自己引导的人则不然（10638节）。那些热爱真理，因为它是真理，也就是喜欢照神性真理生活的人被主引导（10578，10645，10829节）。圣言照着人的爱与信的生活而赋予他生命（1776节）。自我聪明的产物没有生命在里面，因为没有任何良善从人的自我发出（8491，8944节）。那些完全确信虚假教义的人不能被光照（10640节）。
被光照的，是理解力（6608，9300节），因为理解力接受真理（6222，6608，10659节）。对教会一切教义的观念取决于对主题的理解（3310，3825节）。只要一个人活在世上，他的观念就是属世的，因为这时，他在属世层面上进行思考；但对那些处于为了真理而对真理的情感之人来说，属灵观念就隐藏在它们里面（10236，10240，10551节）。没有观念，就没有对任何主题的理解（3825节）。对信之事物的观念在来世被揭开，那时天使就看见它们的性质（1869，3310，5510，6200，6201，8885节）。这意味着圣言只被理性人理解，因为没有对一个主题的某种概念，没有对它的理性洞见，“相信”只在记忆中保留了没有感知和情感的一切生命的一些话语，或说只在记忆中保留我们不明白或不喜欢的一些说法；这不是相信（2553节）。被光照的，是圣言的字义（3436，9824，9905，10548节）。
256、只有被启示者才能理解圣言。除非得到主的启示，人的理性无法理解神性事物，甚至无法理解属灵事物（2196，2203，2209，2654）。因此只有那些被启示的人才理解圣言（10323）。主使被启示之人能够理解真理，并且知道如何协调圣言中那些看上去相互矛盾的内容（9382，10659）。从字义上看，圣言自身并不一致，有时看上去还是矛盾的（9025）。因此，未受启示之人就可能曲解圣言，以支持各自的观点或异端邪说，或迎合诸般世俗和物质之爱欲 （4783，10399，10400）。
出于爱真理和良善而阅读圣言的人就会被圣言启示；但若为了名声、利益或地位，因而是出于爱自己的角度去阅读圣言的人得不到启示（9382，10548–10550）。生活良善并因而喜爱真理的人能够得到启示 （8694）。内在被打开者，即其内在能够被提升至天堂之光中者能够得到启示 （10400，10402，10691，10694） 启示实际上就是深层次的打开人的意志，并将其提升至天堂的光中（10330）。人若看圣言为神圣，则在不知不觉中圣洁就会流入其人之内，即从主而来的圣洁会流入其人心中 （6789）。被主指引之人会得到启示，从圣言中看到真理，但被己欲指引之人不会如此（10638）。人若因真理而爱真理，即喜爱按照神性真理而生活之人，将被主指引（10578，10645，10829）。依据人的爱与信的程度，圣言在他生命中活活的展现出来（1776）。自我为中心的聪明才智结不出生命的果子，因为以自我为中心生不出任何良善（8491，8944）。固执在错误教义之中的人无法得到启示（10640）。
被启示的是人的悟性（6608，9300）。因为是悟性认受真理（6222，6608，10659）。对于教会每一条教义的领悟，都关联着人所持有的观念（3310，3825）。只要活在尘世，人的观念就是属世的，因为他这时是以属世的方式思考。然而对于那些因真理而热切喜爱真理的人，属灵的观念就隐藏在属世的观念中（10237，10240，10551）。没有观念就没有认知（3825）。有关信仰的观念在来生会展示出来，那时天使会看到它们的品相（1869，3310，5510，6200，8885）。所以圣言只能被理性之人理解。因为，若没有对事物的观念，以及对其的理性内视，所谓的相信，就只是把既不理解也不喜欢的一些字句保持在记忆里，这不是相信（2553）。向人启示的是圣言的字面含义（34，36，9824，9905，10548）
256. The Word is understood only by people who are enlightened. Our rational capacity cannot grasp things that are divine; it cannot even grasp things that are spiritual unless it is enlightened by the Lord: 2196, 2203, 2209, 2654. This means that only enlightened people can understand the Word: 10323. The Lord makes it possible for people who are enlightened to understand what is true and to sort out things in the Word that seem contradictory: 9382, 10659. Understood on a literal level, the Word is not consistent and often seems self-contradictory (9025); therefore people who are not enlightened can interpret it and constrain it to support all kinds of opinions and heresies and to favor all kinds of worldly and bodily loves (4783, 10330, 10400). We gain enlightenment from the Word if we read it out of a love for what is true and good, but not if we read it out of a love for fame, profit, or prestige, and therefore out of a love for ourselves: 9382, 10548, 10549, 10550. We are enlightened if we are committed to living good lives and therefore are affected by what is true: 8694. We are enlightened if our inner self has been opened-that is, if our inner self is capable of being raised into heaven's light: 10400, 10402, 10691, 10694. Enlightenment is an actual opening of the deeper reaches of our minds as well as a raising of them into heaven's light: 10330. If we regard the Word as holy, then without our knowing it something holy flows in from within us-that is, through our inner self from the Lord: 6789. We are enlightened and see truths in the Word if we are being led by the Lord, but not if we are leading ourselves: 10638. We are being led by the Lord when we love what is true because it is true; that is, when we love to live by divine truths: 10578, 10645, 10829. The Word is brought to life for us depending on the amount of life there is in our love and faith: 1776. The products of a self-oriented intelligence 1have no life in them, because nothing good comes from our self-centeredness: 8941, 8944. We cannot be enlightened if we have thoroughly convinced ourselves of false teachings: 10640.
[2] It is our understanding that is enlightened (6608, 9300), because it is our understanding that receives truth (6222, 6608, 10659). For every teaching of the church, how well we understand it depends on the nature of the concepts we have of it: 3310, 3825. As long as we are living in this world, our concepts are earthly because we are thinking on an earthly level. However, there are spiritual concepts hidden within them if we are passionately interested in the truth for its own sake: 10236, 10240, 10551. If we cannot conceive of something, we cannot comprehend it, either: 3825. Our concepts of matters of faith are disclosed in the other life, and angels there see what our concepts are like: 1869, 3310, 5510, 6200, 6201, 8885. This means that the Word is understood only by rational people, since without some concept of a subject and some rational insight, "believing" is only keeping in our memory some statement that we do not comprehend or love. This is not believing: 2533. It is the literal meaning of the Word that is enlightened for us: 3436, 9824, 9905, 10548.
Footnotes:
1. The Latin here translated "self-oriented intelligence" is propria intelligentia. For more on the adjective in question, proprius, "one's own," "belonging to oneself," see note 1 in New Jerusalem 70. [Editors]
256. Not translated.
256. The Word is understood only by those who have been enlightened. The human Rational cannot comprehend Divine things, nor even spiritual things, unless it is enlightened by the Lord, Arcana Coelestia 2196, 2203, 2209, 2654. Wherefore, only those who have been enlightened comprehend the Word, Arcana Coelestia 10323. To those who are being enlightened it is granted by the Lord to understand the truth, and to see how to reconcile those things in the Word which seem to contradict each other, Arcana Coelestia 9382, 10659. The Word in the sense of the letter is not consistent with itself, and sometimes appears contradictory to itself, Arcana Coelestia 9025. Wherefore, by those who have not been enlightened it can be explained and twisted so as to confirm any opinion and any heresy whatever, and to favour any worldly and corporeal love, Arcana Coelestia 4783, 10330, 10400. Those are enlightened from the Word who read it from the love of truth and good, but not those who read it from the love of fame, of gain, and of places of honour, and thus from the love of self, Arcana Coelestia 9382, 10548, 10549, 10551. Those are enlightened who are in the good of life, and from it in an affection for the truth, Arcana Coelestia 8694. Those are enlightened with whom their Internal has been opened; those consequently who as to their internal man can be elevated into the light of heaven, Arcana Coelestia 10400, 10402, 10691, 10694. Enlightenment consists in an actual opening, and also in an elevation into the light of heaven, Arcana Coelestia 10330. Holiness from the Internal, that is, through the Internal from the Lord, flows in with those who deem the Word holy, they themselves being ignorant of it, Arcana Coelestia 6789. Those are enlightened, and see truths in the Word, who are led by the Lord, but not those who are led by self, Arcana Coelestia 10638. Those are led by the Lord who love the truth because it is true, and these are they who love to live according to Divine Truths, Arcana Coelestia 10578, 10645, 10829. The Word is vivified with a man, according to his life of love and faith Arcana Coelestia 1776. Those things which are from self-intelligence have no life in them, because nothing or good proceeds from a man's Self (proprium) Arcana Coelestia 8941, 8944 Those who have confirmed themselves much in a false doctrine, cannot be enlightened, Arcana Coelestia 10640.
It is the understanding that is enlightened, Arcana Coelestia 6608, 9300. Because the understanding is the receptacle of the truth, Arcana Coelestia 6222, 6608, 10659. There are ideas Concerning every doctrinal of the Church, by, which the understanding of a thing is determined, Arcana Coelestia 3310, 3825. So long as a man lives in the world, his ideas are natural, because he then thinks in the Natural; nevertheless spiritual ideas lie concealed in them with those who are in the affection of the truth for the sake of truth, Arcana Coelestia 10237, 10240, 10551. Apart from any ideas on a subject there is no perception, Arcana Coelestia 3825. The ideas concerning matters of faith are opened in the other life, and their quality is then seen by the angels, Arcana Coelestia 1869, 3310, 5510, 6200, 8885. Wherefore the Word is understood only by a rational man; for believing a thing without any idea of it, and without any rational view of it, means retaining in the memory words void of every life of perception and affection, which actually means not believing, Arcana Coelestia 2553. The literal sense of the Word is what is enlightened, Arcana Coelestia 3436, 9824, 9905, 10548.
256. The Word is not understood except by those who are enlightened.
The human rational cannot apprehend Divine things, nor even spiritual things, unless it is enlightened by the Lord (n. 2196, 2203, 2209, 2654). Thus only they who are enlightened apprehend the Word (n. 10323). The Lord enables those who are enlightened to understand truth, and to see how to reconcile those things in the Word which may appear to contradict each other (n. 9382, 10659). The Word in the sense of the letter is not consistent with itself, and sometimes it appears contradictory (n. 9025). And therefore it may be explained and strained by those who are not enlightened, to confirm any opinion or heresy whatever, and to patronize any worldly and corporeal love (n. 4783, 10399, 10400).
They who read the Word from the love of truth and good, are enlightened from it, but not they who read it from the love of fame, gain, or honor, thus from the love of self (n. 9382, 10548-10550). They who are in the good of life, and thereby in the affection of truth, are enlightened (n. 8694). They whose internal is open, and who thus as to their internal man are capable of being elevated into the light of heaven, are enlightened (n. 10400, 10402, 10691, 10694). Enlightenment is an actual opening of the interiors of the mind, and elevation of them into the light of heaven (n. 10330). Holiness from the internal, that is, through the internal from the Lord, inflows with those who esteem the Word to be holy, though they themselves do not know it (n. 6789). They who are led by the Lord are enlightened, and see truths in the Word, but not they who are led by self (n. 10638). They who love truth because it is truth, that is, who love to live according to Divine truths, are led by the Lord (n. 10578, 10645, 10829). The Word is vivified with man, according to his life of love and faith (n. 1776). Those things which are from one's own intelligence have no life in them, since nothing good proceeds from man's proprium (n. 8491, 8944). They who have much confirmed themselves in false doctrine cannot be enlightened (n. 10640).
It is the understanding that is enlightened (n. 6608, 9300). Because the understanding is recipient of truth (n. 6222, 6608, 10659). There are ideas concerning every doctrinal of the church, according to which is the understanding of the subject (n. 3310, 3825). A man's ideas, so long as he lives in the world, are natural, because he then thinks in the natural, but nevertheless spiritual ideas lie concealed therein with those who are in the affection of truth for the sake of truth (n. 10237, 10240, 10551). There is no perception of any subject without ideas (n. 3825). The ideas concerning the things of faith are opened in the other life, and their quality is then seen by the angels (n. 1869, 3310, 5510, 6200, 8885). Therefore the Word is not understood except by a rational man; for to believe anything without having an idea of the subject, and without a rational view of it, is only to retain words in the memory, destitute of all the life of perception and affection, which is not believing (n. 2553). The literal sense of the Word is what is enlightened (n. 34, 36, 9824, 9905, 10548).
256. Quod Verbum non intelligatur quam ab Illustratis.
Quod rationale humanum non capere possit Divina, ne quidem spiritualia nisi a Domino illustretur (Arcana Coelestia 2196, 2203, 2209, 2654).
Ita quod modo illustrati capiant Verbum (Arcana Coelestia 10323).
Quod Dominus, illis qui illustrantur, det intelligere verum, ac discernere illa quae in Verbo apparent sibi contradicere (Arcana Coelestia 9382, 10659).
Quod Verbum in sensu litterae non sibi simile sit, et aliquoties appareat sibi contradicens (Arcana Coelestia 9025).
Et quod ideo a non illustratis possit explicari et trahi ad confirmandum quamcunque opinionem et haeresin, et ad patrocinandum cuicunque amori mundano et corporeo (Arcana Coelestia 4783, 10399, 10401 (1040).
Quod illi ex Verbo illustrentur qui legunt illud ex amore veri et boni; non autem qui ex amore famae, lucri, honoris, ita ex amore sui (Arcana Coelestia 9382, 10548-10550, [10551?],).
Quod illi illustrentur qui in bono vitae sunt, et inde in affectione veri (Arcana Coelestia 8694).
Quod illustrentur quibus internum apertum est, ita qui quoad internum suum hominem possunt elevari in lucem caeli (Arcana Coelestia 10401, [1040?], 10402, 10691, 10694).
Quod illustratio sit actualis aperitio, et quoque elevatio in lucem caeli (Arcana Coelestia 10330).
Quod sanctum ab interno, hoc est, per internum a Domino, influat apud illos qui sanctum habent Verbum, illis nescientibus (Arcana Coelestia 6789).
Quod illustrentur illi, et in Verbo videant vera, qui a Domino ducuntur; non autem qui a semet (Arcana Coelestia 10638).
Quod illi a Domino ducantur qui amant verum quia est verum, qui sunt qui amant vivere secundum Divina vera (Arcana Coelestia 10578, 10645, 10829).
Quod Verbum vivificetur apud hominem secundum ejus amoris et ei vitam (Arcana Coelestia 1776).
Quod illa quae a propria intelligentia sunt, non vitam in se habeant, quia a proprio hominis nihil bonum (Arcana Coelestia 8941, 8944).
Quod non illustrari possint qui se multum confirmaverunt in doctrina falsa (Arcana Coelestia 10640).
Quod intellectus sit qui illustratur (Arcana Coelestia 6608, 9300).
Quoniam intellectus est recipiens veri (Arcana Coelestia 6242, [6222?], 6608, 10659).
Quod de omni doctrinali ecclesiae sint ideae, secundum quas est intellectus rei (Arcana Coelestia 3310, 3825).
Quod ideae hominis, quamdiu vivit in mundo, sint naturales, quia tunc cogitat in naturali; sed quod usque spirituales ideae in illis reconditae sint apud illos qui in affectione veri propter verum sunt (Arcana Coelestia 10236, [10237?], 10240, 10550, [10551?],).
Quod absque ideis de quacunque re, nulla perceptio (Arcana Coelestia 3825).
Quod ideae de rebus fidei aperiantur in altera vita, et ibi ab angelis videantur quales sunt (Arcana Coelestia 1869, 3310, 5510, 6201, [6200?], 888).
Quod ideo Verbum non intelligatur quam a rationali homine; nam credere aliquid absque idea rei, et absque rationis intuitione, est modo memoriter retinere vocem omni vita perceptionis et affectionis destitutam, quod non est credere (Arcana Coelestia 2553).
Quod sensus litteralis Verbi sit qui illustratur (Arcana Coelestia 3619, [3436?], 9824, 9905, 10548).